Breast augmentation 180cc moderate profile (34 yo/5’3”/120 lbs)

I haven’t seen many reviews for small implants on Real Self so I am sharing my journey here. First, I want to explain my reasons for choosing such modest implants, since it is a lot of money and pain for a modest change.
I wear a size 30C bra and my breast width is 11cm, so my frame is pretty small. I am looking for soft breasts with a natural slope and want a VERY modest change. I work out a lot and do not want my breast implants to get in the way. I also don’t want to look bigger than I am and I think large breasts can sometimes make people look heavy if they are disproportionately sized. I am also concerned about being able to find bras and bathing suits that fit. It is already very hard to find a bra with a 30 band - most brands only go down to a size 32. I also want to be able to go braless sometimes. At the end of the day, I really just do not want to have large breasts, just largER and a little perkier than they are now.
My current size, 30C, is not large at all. It is equivalent to a 34A. This is one of my pet peeves because even while interviewing surgeons, I got confused looks when explaining that I wanted to be a D cup, but only wanted a modest change. When talking to surgeons who had no idea how cup sizes work, I just gave in and said I want to be a full B cup.
Luckily, I found Dr. Tracey Pfeifer, who not only knows about cup sizes, but she was also the ONLY surgeon who did not tell me that I actually wanted to go bigger than what I had asked for. The smallest sizers I was put in were 250cc high profile until Dr. Pfeifer, who listened to me and considered the pictures I brought in before trying 180cc moderate profile sizers. I loved them. I tried a few moderate plus sizers and I felt like I looked cartoonish. On me, they just looked way too pointy and huge. I do worry that I will wake up and wish I went bigger, but I know that, while I may be disappointed if they are too small, I will be mortified if they are too large.
I do have some asymmetry and Dr. Pfeifer will make the final choice in the OR, but I trust that I won’t wake up with boobs that seem too large to me.
My surgery is tomorrow and I am nervous about the pain and about not being able to help around the house. I hate not being able to do things, but I will try to take it easy. I am taking arnica, vitamin C, and Colace in preparation for surgery. I am also going to get a massage this afternoon, as my shoulder, upper back, and pec muscles are always pretty tight from working at a computer all day. Hopefully that will help the muscles relax a little. At the very least, it may help me relax!
For recovery, I bought a Sakara Life meal plan. It’s expensive, but I am glad to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner taken care of for five days after my surgery, and to know they will all be healthy, anti-inflammation foods. I also have ice packs, pillows to sleep propped up, soft flannel shirts, and a bunch of shows I love to catch up on. My surgery is on a Monday and I took the whole week off. My boyfriend took Monday and Tuesday off to stay in with me. I also plan to take a car service in to work the first week I am back because I do not want to get bumped on the subway or get stuck underground for an hour standing up. Hopefully, I have thought of everything crucial and recovery will be smooth sailing.

The doctor ended up using a 180 low profile smooth round implant on my left and 210 low profile on my right side. I am very happy with the results so far and will post pictures soon. They look symmetrical for the first time in my life! Even though the asymmetry was slight, I noticed it and it bothered me, so I am very happy that the surgery made my breasts more symmetrical.
I have more pain today than I did yesterday, the day of the surgery. On the first day, it just felt like I had done 100 pushups, my pec muscles were so sore, especially under my armpits. When I woke up this morning, my whole rib cage was sore to the touch. I am also VERY bloated today. Thank god for elastic waist bands.
I have felt a few “zingers,” but they weren’t too horrible. Hopefully I am not speaking too soon, but BA surgery has been much less painful than getting my wisdom teeth taken out.
I have been managing the pain with vicodin and extra strength Tylenol (if the pain is bad, I use vicodin, which means I mostly take the vicodin when I wake up from naps). I am also on a muscle relaxer, which is probably why my pecs aren’t hurting me too much today.
I took a shower today but was very gentle, so I still have marks on my chest from where Dr. Pfeifer drew on me. Tomorrow, I am going to try to wash my hair.
One thing that I am so glad I did prepping for recovery is sign up for a meal delivery service just for the week of surgery. I chose Sakara ($350 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday) because it super healthy, plant-based food with lots of fiber. Not having to think about what I am going to eat has been a godsend, not to mention not having to prepare anything myself. This is especially true because I have to ale the vicodin and my antibiotic with food. When I’m in pain, I do not want to be going through my cupboards trying to figure out what to eat with my meds. Sakara is pretty pricey, but the same could be accomplished by making your meals ahead of time and freezing them. Sakara is really expensive (at least for me) but it has been worth it to have one less thing to worry about.
My boobs are still pretty high and they feel so tight, but I can already tell I am going to love the results. I can’t wait for them to drop and fluff!

Today was the first day that I woke up feeling almost normal. I feel tightness and a mild discomfort, but nothing that I could describe as “pain.” Even the incision sites are just kind of itchy and sensitive. (My surgeon told me to put hydrocortisone cream around my steri-strips and that helped the itching a lot!)
Even though I am physically feeling better, I am feeling more down about being helpless and tired. My boyfriend is doing everything around the house on top of going to work and I am so grateful, but wish I could do more. It’s depressing to be sitting at home alone and not be able to take care of the dirty laundry that is bothering me. I realize this is hardly something to feel down about, but maybe that just illustrates what a total mind f*** it is to go through healing-it may get you down no matter how ideal the situation is.
One thing that helps a lot is taking little walks outside. I live at the top of a 6 story walk up, so any walk is a commitment, but I take the stairs slowly and am fine. Getting fresh air and a little sun makes me feel less grimey. Just make sure to bundle up because shivering really hurts.
I am also forcing myself to take a shower every night and wash my hair every other night. That helps a lot as well.
I am going back to work Monday (1 week post op) and I am confident that I will feel ready to go back.
I am still pretty bloated and am waiting for them to drop and fluff. Pics to come soon.